(From Canon literature) With the demand for digital SLR cameras reaching unprecedented levels, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is answering the call with the announcement of the next evolution in advanced amateur digital SLR photography, the EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera with 15.1 megapixel resolution and Canon's new DIGIC 4 image processor. Designed to offer extraordinary quality and image control for the advanced photographer with a passion for the art, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera includes an expanded ISO range, improved noise reduction, and in-camera photo editing features. Canon has loaded the EOS 50D camera with a number of enhancements and some trickle-down technology from Canon's professional Digital SLR cameras, as well as a new Creative Auto Mode (CA) that gives users more creative flexibility to make image setting adjustments conveniently without the need to be a photo expert.

Canon has built upon the success of the popular EOS 40D model -- which will remain in Canon's line -- with the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera. Expected to be the camera body of choice for advanced amateur photographers this holiday season, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera carries over the EOS 40D's 14-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion process for smooth tones, and also includes enhanced noise reduction, especially at higher ISO ranges which will help bring those romantic nighttime shots into greater focus and clarity. Capable of shooting 6.3 frames per second (fps), the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera is ideal for shooting everything from beautiful night landscapes to fast-action sports.

"Advanced amateur photographers blur the line between the hobbyist and the professional, looking for professional features and capabilities in their equipment that will allow them to capture that awe-inspiring image. Canon is constantly striving to provide these shooters with the most advanced imaging technology, like the new EOS 50D Digital SLR camera, to fuel their passion for photography, and help them achieve their creative potential," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

Improved Image QualityThe EOS 50D Digital SLR camera's 15.1-megapixel CMOS APS-C size image sensor has been improved thanks to the use of newly designed gapless microlenses over each pixel to reduce noise and expand sensitivity up to ISO 12800. The faster processing speed of the camera's DIGIC 4 image processor contributes to the fast 6.3 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 90 Large/Fine JPEGs or 16 RAW images on a UDMA CF card), to give shooters the tools they need to capture that perfect moment in perfect clarity.

The Canon EOS 50D camera provides ISO speeds from ISO 100 up to ISO 3200 in 1/3-stop increments, along with two high-speed settings -- H1 and H2 -- of ISO 6400 and ISO 12800, respectively. Along with a wide ISO range, Canon gives shooters more tools to help maximize clarity and color. The EOS 50D Digital SLR camera offers multiple levels of noise reduction during high-speed shooting. Users can choose from one of four settings -- Standard/Weak/Strong/None -- to help reduce digital noise that can result from poor lighting conditions.

As part of the camera's internal image processing, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera conducts peripheral illumination correction, which automatically evens brightness across the image field, making an image of a blue sky even toned throughout, a function previously accomplished through post-processing software on a personal computer. Thanks largely to the DIGIC 4 processor, this automatic adjustment can be made in-camera during shooting with JPEG images or corrected in post-photoshoot processing with RAW images through Canon's Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, which is supplied at no extra charge.

Helping to ensure each picture's subject is clearly visible, Canon's enhanced Auto Lighting Optimizer analyzes the brightness of subjects and automatically adjusts dark images so that they appear brighter, perfect for subjects in shade or in backlit situations. The Auto Lighting Optimizer on the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera has been updated not only to optimize images while they are being taken, but can also optimize images post-capture, during playback, to help ensure the subject of each image does not appear too dark. This is especially helpful when an amateur photographer uses the camera, because post-capture enhancement can help maximize image quality without the need of a computer.

A significant upgrade to the Canon EOS 50D camera is its large, clear 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen which features 920,000 dot/VGA resolution, four times the pixel count of the EOS 40D camera's screen, for better clarity and color. To help show off those fantastic shots, the EOS 50D camera includes an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output to display crisp, clear images on a High-Definition TV. The EOS 50D recognizes the needs of today's photographers, and the faster processing speed of the DIGIC 4 processor helps support UDMA cards for faster writing of image files.

The camera is also equipped with a high-performance viewfinder featuring 0.95x magnification and the same high-performance Autofocus (AF) system as the EOS 40D camera with nine cross-type sensors for accurate target subject acquisition with lenses possessing maximum apertures of f/5.6 or faster and a high-precision diagonal center cross-type AF point that's effective with f/2.8 and faster lenses, helping photographers ensure better focus of their targets. The AF Microadjustment feature, originally introduced last year with the Canon EOS-1D Mark III professional digital SLR camera, has also been added to the EOS 50D for maximum control over focusing precision.

Canon Gets Creative For Advancing AmateursCanon is taking steps to give advanced amateurs more flexibility with a new "CA" Creative Full Auto setting on the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera's mode dial. This new setting goes a step beyond Full Auto, by allowing users to make adjustments before shooting while still in an Automatic mode, without needing to know the meaning of technical terms such as aperture, shutter speed, etc. In this mode, the camera menu on the back screen spells out options in common language for average photo enthusiasts, allowing them to "blur the background" or "lighten or darken the image." These easy-to-comprehend image options will help amateur photographers improve the shots they are capable of taking, while helping them learn new techniques. When in the new CA mode, users will be able to adjust flash settings, brighten or darken images, blur the background, set the camera's drive mode, and select a picture style directly on the camera's LCD screen.

Better Live ViewFor photographers who prefer to frame their shots using the camera's 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen, Canon has improved the Live View function of the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera to include "Quick Mode AF," "Live Mode AF," and "Face Detection Live Mode AF" that detects up to 35 individual forward-looking faces for better focus and clarity when taking group or portrait shots. The camera's Quick Mode AF setting flips the mirror down and carries out regular phase-detection autofocus, while the Live Mode AF and Face Detection Live Mode AF use the camera's CMOS image sensor for contrast detection autofocus. Two detailed grid displays have also been added to Live View shooting as optional settings for easier composition.

Two Small RAW FormatsIn addition to the RAW and JPEG image capture modes that photographers are accustomed to, the EOS 50D Digital SLR camera now offers more manageable resolution settings and file sizes with two sRAW recording formats, sRAW1 and sRAW2. At the sRAW1 setting, resolution is 7.1 megapixels with a file size that is approximately 25 percent smaller than a standard 15.1 megapixel RAW image. With the sRAW2 setting, resolution is 3.8 megapixels at less than half the file size of a standard RAW image, retaining all of the flexibility and creative possibilities associated with full-size, conventional RAW images. The EOS 50D is the first Canon Digital SLR that allows the use of RAW and sRAW settings in Basic Zone as well as Creative Zone shooting modes, even further improving the camera's flexibility.

EOS Integrated Cleaning SystemThe Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit for the Canon EOS 50D has also been upgraded and now includes a fluorine coating on the low-pass filter for better dust resistance. The Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit uses ultrasonic vibrations to shake dust particles off of the low-pass filter in front of the sensor each time the camera is powered up or shut down. The second part of the system includes a software component where sensor spots are mapped and saved as Dust Delete Data that is attached to the image file for removal during post processing using Canon's DPP software.

Pricing and AvailabilityThe EOS 50D is compatible with the full lineup of Canon EF lenses as well as the Company's ever-growing line of affordable EF-S lenses created specifically for Canon Digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensors. The Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR camera is scheduled for October delivery and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated selling price of $1,399.00*. It will additionally be offered in a kit version with Canon's EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens at an estimated selling price of $1,599.00.

Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $650.00| Rating: 8

Pros:

Build quality, hand grip is substantial, image quality at lower iso

Cons:

Images above ISO 800 is ugly IMO (don't like the chroma noise), heavy

This is a hefty SLR which handles very well to people with larger hands. The build quality is top notch and so it is heavy.

My concern is with image quality: up to ISO 800 the image is great but above ISO 800, it is grainy (predominantly chroma noise) and lacks details. In the end I sold this camera and 'upgraded' to older but still wonderful Canon 5D

climbhigh4fun

Registered: May 2011Posts: 6

Canon EOS 50D review by climbhigh4fun

Review Date: 2/5/2013

Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $1,300.00| Rating: 9

Pros:

Excellent IQ, great ergonomics, I love the controls and quick menu option set up is excellent.

Cons:

I've owned the camera for quite some time now and still don't have anything negative to say.

I still use this camera with great results even though it only 15.1 megapixel, with my Canon L series lenses and my Sigma lenses I get great pro quality results, in my opinion.

I can't find much to complain about. When I purchased it, an 18-138 IS lens was included. A pretty decent kit lens, but I own better lenses so I sold the lens.

This camera has been discontinued, but if you need a back up camera and can find a gently used one, it is certainly an attractive camera in my opinion.

Sanjeed

Registered: January 2011Posts: 5

Canon EOS 50D review by Sanjeed

Review Date: 1/26/2011

Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9

It's a wonderful camera that serves the purposes of advanced hobbyist nature photographers.

However, it's a fact that the law of physics cannot be reversed. The gapless microlens is more of a gimmick than reality. This camera produces more noise than EOS 450D. I tested both in same light, with same lens and same settings. The 50D image produced more noise than 450D. Yes there are noise management packages around these days but it reduces details as well.

It's a recognized actuality that 12 mp is the optimum highest possible resolution on crop sensors. This is already more than enough to blow out images to mammoth prints with excellent details. So, forcing more megapixels into it was not a praiseworthy step and every 50D/7D user is dejected over this.

Had Canon retained 12 mp resolutions on crop sensors and improved upon other key areas; both these cameras would have been wonderful photographic equipment.

ken billington

Registered: December 2010Posts: 4

Canon EOS 50D review by ken billington

Review Date: 12/6/2010

Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9

1. 15.1-megapixel CMOS Sensor - those remote bird shots can now be cropped even more without losing image quality. This is a big advantage compared to the older Canon models 40D (10.1MP) or 30D (8.2MP).
2. The Improved Noise Reduction of the sensor also allows the use of higher ISO's without excessive graininess (maximum ISO rating of 12800, a key advantage if you have to shoot in low-light conditions.
3. Fast Frame Rate and Short Shutter Lag - the processor can shoot up to 6.3 fps, in bursts of up to 90 JPEGs - ideal for shooting birds in flight. This is a big advantage compared to the 60D, Rebel T1i & Rebel T2i.
4. Low Grain and Artifacts - the self cleaning sensor unit includes a fluorine coating on the low-pass filter for better dust resistance. Each time your switch the camera on and off, the self-cleaning mode kicks in.
5. Build Quality - the 50D camera body being made of magnesium alloy feels sturdy and solid as opposed to the Rebel T1i or T2i.

Disadvantages

1. Partial Weather Sealing - only the Canon 1-series bodies are weather sealed. Better not to get your 50D wet!
2. Pixel Count - based on sensor size and pixel count the 60D or the older 7D come out on top with 18MP. The 50D with 15.1MP is still far superior to the older Canon models 40D (10.1MP) or 30D (8.2MP).

Summary

The EOS 50D 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera is an excellent choice for the wildlife photographer. It delivers superb image quality from a solid-performing body. Check out my Bird & Wildlife Photos on http://kenbillington.ch/photobank/

touristguy87

Registered: July 2007Posts: 36

Canon EOS 50D review by touristguy87

Review Date: 6/24/2010

Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $1,200.00| Rating: 8

Pros:

pretty decent well-balanced subframe, competent all-aaround

Cons:

colors are fairly brassy, but this is common for Canon CMOS DSLRs

I liked this camera, especially at 15MP which I think is pushing the limits for a subframe, but for what it does and for the price it's pretty good.

It brings the competence and performance of the 30D up to 15MP and ISO6400. Nice quiet shutter, decent control layout (though I'm a fan of having the buttons on the left rather than the bottom), decently quick & accurate AF that works well in low-light, not a huge frame or huge cost, still get the crop-factor of a subframe. Pretty-much does the job IQ-wise ISO100-1600, as long as there's decent light. It can't compete with the CMOS Nikons in terms of color or shadow-detail, but for a medium-cost all-rounder it's pretty good.

AljoschaNiko

Registered: May 2009Posts: 3

Canon EOS 50D review by AljoschaNiko

Review Date: 6/6/2009

Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $1,117.55| Rating: 9

AF adjustment only really useable on Prime lenses, ISO noise a bit high even on ISO 100

Before I got my 50D I had the 450D and with the 50D I got a step higher! The feeling, the build quality and the functions are very great and useable. The LC Display is just a dream, so big and so clear and sharp! Due to the high RAW resolution you can individually choose your image composition or crops. The upper LCD is very useful and shows all important functions you need to take pictures. All in all, this is a very great camera and I'm really happy, that I did the step from 450D to 50D, even if the ISO noise beginning from ISO 100 is not as low as I expected. I can highly recommend that cam for semi-pros!